Engineering:MX-1 Kalakian
| MX-1 Kalakian Fire-Support Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Type | Armoured Fighting Vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Philippines |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Steelcraft Industrial & Development Corporation |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 11.5-12.5 tons depending on role |
| Length | 5.35 m |
| Width | 2.50 m |
| Height | 2.25 m-projected info only |
| Crew | 3 + 12 Riders |
| Armour | ~12mm steel plating |
Main armament | One .50 cal MG, one 7.62mm MG and one 40mm AGL in a Three Weapon Turret System |
Secondary armament | One 7.62mm MpMG in the rear cupola |
| Engine | Cummins diesel 6-cylinder in-line engine 250hp |
| Drive | Full-time four-wheel drive |
Operational range | 500 km (310 mi) |
| Speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
The MX-1 is a Philippine Armored personnel carrier (APC) developed by Steelcraft Industrial & Development Corporation in the early 2000s and presented in 2002.
Development
The MX-1 was developed in the early 2000s as a fire support vehicle in a joint project between Steelcraft and the Philippine Army's Light Armored Brigade (later Light Armored Division), with its prototype appearing in 2002.[1] Its development is derived from the Hari-Digma APC also designed by Steelcraft. It is the second of the four vehicles developed by Steelcraft.
Armament
Being a fire support vehicle, the MX-1 needed to have adequate firepower, so Steelcraft designed a unique Three-Weapon Turret System and a rear cupola for the MX-1's use. The Three-Weapon Turret System consists of a .50 cal machine gun, a 7.62mm multipurpose MG and a 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher for extra punch. The rear cupola houses another 7.62mm multipurpose machine gun for rear coverage. This gives the MX-1 four weapons to bring against different types of targets, giving it flexibility in various engagements.
Armor
Information has not been released by the Philippine government.
Engine
The MX-1 uses a Cummins diesel in-line 6-cylinder engine. The engine produces 250 hp (190 kW) and gives the MX-1 a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph). The Cummins engine was chosen for its robustness and reliability, both very important in the jungle terrain of the Philippines.
Deployment capability
The MX-1 has two side doors and one rear door for fast deployment. Tested against the one-doored Simba (APC), results showed 150% faster deployment time on exiting the vehicle. This rapid deployment was promoted as one of the strengths of the MX-1.
Related development
- MX-8 Armored Escort Vehicle
- MX-7 Gagamba
- Simba (APC)
Users
- Philippines
Philippine Army- One prototype only. Never entered service.
References
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